Sheriff's daughter charged with witness intimidation after club shootings

Monday

Aug 4, 2014 at 7:46 PMAug 4, 2014 at 8:00 PM

By CURT BROWNcbrown@s-t.com

NEW BEDFORD — A daughter of Bristol County Sheriff Thomas M. Hodgson was arrested early Saturday after the shootings outside Jalice Cafe, the sheriff confirmed Monday

Michelle L. Hodgson, 29, of New Bedford was charged with intimidation of a witness, according to the New Bedford Police Department's arrest log. She was taken into custody about 1:30 a.m., the log said.

Seven city residents were injured early Saturday in a shooting outside the Acushnet Avenue nightclub, although none of the injuries is considered life-threatening. The seven — four men and three women — are all in their 20s except for a 19-year-old man.

The sheriff said his daughter and some of her friends were at the Feast of the Blessed Sacrament earlier in the night and then went to Jalice Cafe.

When the shootings occurred, his daughter and her friends were inside the club, he said.

She was arrested when she was getting ready to leave and saw officers outside the club. “That was when she had an encounter with police,” the sheriff said. He said she was curious and was standing on the curb and observing the police activity.

The sheriff declined to give details as to why she was arrested.

“As a dad it's upsetting to me that it happened at all,” Sheriff Hodgson said.

He said he has spoken with his daughter about the incident and believes she will be cleared of any wrongdoing when the case is heard in court.

“I have every confidence in the justice system and I'm sure she will be exonerated,” he said.

Michelle Hodgson will be arraigned Tuesday in New Bedford District Court, according to Gregg Miliote the spokesman for the Bristol County District Attorney.